Supporting local decision-making

Better data is essential to improve health outcomes, yet routinely available data for the monitoring of progress are often of low quality. Even where rich data sources are available, there can be limited capacity to synthesise, interpret and learn from the data.

IDEAS works to support local decision-making in Nigeria, Ethiopia and India.

In Gombe State, Nigeria, IDEAS used a results framework with six-monthly data-driven learning workshops to support the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation implementation projects.

In West Bengal, India, IDEAS supported district health decision-making through a prototype phase of the Data-Informed Platform for Health (DIPH) – a structured method combining a toolkit with facilitated discussions and action planning.  This involves a five-step cycle running every 3-4 months at district level. Standardized job-aids facilitate linking of input and process data from health and other sectors onto a common data-sharing platform. Government and non-government stakeholders analyse the data, identify challenges and gaps and agree on measures to be taken to resolve issues.

IDEAS is using an action-research approach to adapt, implement and evaluate the Data-Informed Platform for Health for the Ethiopian context.